Shoe polishing machine



Nov. 6, 1956 B. c. ASHLEY SHOE POLISHING MAQRINE Filed Nov. 4, 1952 22a7 Fig 3 Burn/s 6. Ashley INVENTOR.

Nov. 6, 1956 Filed Nov. 4, 1952 B. 0. ASHLEY 2,769,190

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 O m 0' 0 ob 0 0 V s w: a o

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N \N A w s o 0 0 a I a I q N '2' M3 o 3 5 Burn/s 0. Ashley INVENTOIZ.

Q a BY @W o '0 Q and Q- 0 9 3 m Nov. 6, 1956 B. c. ASHLEY 2,769,190

I SHOE POLISHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4; 1952 S Sheets-Sheet 5 Bum/'s 0.Ashley INVENTOR.

, Attorney:

United States Patent SHOE POLISHING MACHINE Burnis C. Ashley, Houston,Tex.

Application November 4, 1952, Serial No. 318,705

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-31) This invention relates in general to shoepolishing machines, and more specifically to a machine whose shoepolishing operation is entirely mechanical.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved machinewhich may effectively polish shoes through the use of mechanical meansonly, said shoe polishing machine being of a nature whereby the expenseof having the shoes polished may be much less than that normally chargedfor manual shoe polishing operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shoepolishing machine which is of the type which may be conveniently mountedin stores or other public places and which may be customer-operated soas to automatically shine ones shoes upon the actuation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shoepolishing machine which includes a plurality of brushes having controlmeans for selectively actuating the same, said brushes being adapted tosequentially clean, apply polish to, and shine a shoe positioned withina shoe receiving opening of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shoepolishing machine which is especially designed for mechanically shiningshoes, said shoe polishing machine being of a relatively simpleconstruction and formed of readily obtainable materials whereby the sameis economically feasible. i

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved shoepolishing machine which is of the type that may be conveniently disposedwithin an attractive cabinet and which may be operated to selectivelypolish black or brown shoes, or any other desired combination of shoes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedcontrol mechanism for a shoe shining machine, said control mechanismbeing so designed whereby the same may be actuated by a coin disposedwithin a coin slot, said control mechanism being adapted to selectivelyoperate drive means for the shoe polishing machine and including meansfor selectively applying polish to a set of polish applying brushes.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the shoe polishing machine which is thesubject of this invention andshows the general appearance of the machineincluding shoe receiving recesses formed in a portion thereof;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the shoe polishing machine ofFigure 1 and shows the general appearance of the same; I i

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the mechanism disposed within thecabinet of Figures 1 and 2 and shows the general construction of theshoe polishing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view through one half ofthe lower portion of the cabinet of Figure 1 and shows the specificarrangement of brushes and drive mechanisms for operating a shoepolishing assembly for polishing one sh-oe;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a shoe being in the processof being engaged by a toe engaging brush of the shoe polishing assemblyof Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the rear of theshoe of Figure 5 and shows one side of the same being engaged by a sideand heel engaging brush;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the plane indicated by t e section line 77 of Figure 8and shows the manner in which a hanger for a brush mounting shaft issecured to one of the conveyor chains;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of Figure 4 and showsthe mounting and drive means for the conveyors and brushes; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 4 and showsthe relationship of the brushes at a different point in the shoepolishing cycle of the shoe polishing mechanism.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in particular, it is seen that there isillustrated a cabinet which is referred to in general by the referencenumeral 10. The cabinet 10 includes a generally rectangular baseportion, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12,and an upstanding portion which is referred to in general by thereference numeral 14. The upstanding portion 14 is intended to containcontrol mechanism for shoe polishing machinery disposed within the baseportion 12. Mounted at the top of the upstanding portion 14 is a displaycase 16 in which may be mounted for display articles such as shoe lacesand the like.

The top wall 18 of the base portion 12 is provided with a pair of shoereceiving openings 20 and 22 in which ones foot may be disposed. Forpurposes of illustration, the shoe receiving opening 20 is associatedwith a black shoe polish applying mechanism and the shoe receivingopening' 22 is associated with a brown shoe polish applying mechanism.In order that the shoe polishing mechanisms may be selectively operated,a'front wall 24 of the up standing portion 14 is provided with coinreceiving slots 26 and 28 which are adapted to control the black polishapplying mechanism and the brown polish applying mechanism,respectively. Associated with the coin receiving slots 26 and 28 arecoin returns 39 and 32, respectively, into which pass defective coinswhich will not operate the control mechanism of the shoe polishmechanisms of the shoe polishing machine.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it is seen that there isillustrated a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the shoe polishingmachine, which is the object of this invention, the mechanism includinga black shoe polish applying mechanism which is referred to in generalby the reference numeral 34 and a brown shoe polish applying mechanismwhich is referred to in general by the reference numeral 36. It will beobserved by carefully reviewing Figure 3 that the black shoe polishapplying mechanism 3,4 is identical to the brown shoe'polish applyingmechanism 36. Inasmuch as the two shoe polish applying mechanisms areidentical, only one will be described in detail.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 8 in particular, it is seen that the baseportion 12 of the cabinet 10 includes a front wall 38, a rear wall 40and one side wall 42 which extends between adjacent edges of the frontand the rear walls. The base portion 12 also includes theabove-mentioned top wall 18 to which is secured the upstanding portion.14 and which is provided with the shoe receiving opening 22 The baseportion 12 also includes a bottom wall 44 which is in spaced parallelrelation with respect to the top wall 18.

As is best illustrated in Figure 8, secured to the bottom wall 44 is aplurality of upstanding C-shaped supports 46 which have lower flanges 48thereof secured in overlying relation to the bottom wall 44 by suitablefasteners 50. The supports 46 also include upper flanges 52 which havemounted thereon in overlying relation thereto by suitable fasteners 54rollers 56. Each of the rollers 56 engages an inner portion of a lowerconveyor chain 58 whose outline is best illustrated in Figure 4. Each ofthe rollers 56 is provided with a lower annular flange 60 whichunderlies the conveyor chain 58 and supports the same above the bottomwall 44.

In vertically spaced relation to the conveyor chain 58 is an identicalconveyor chain 62. The conveyor chain 62 is also supported by aplurality of C-shaped supports 64. However, the supports 64 are securedby suitable fasteners 66 to the underside of the top wall 18 and dependtherefrom. Secured to a lower flange of each support 64 and extendingupwardly therefrom is a roller 68. The roller 68 engages the conveyorchain 22 and supports the same for movement, each roller 68 beingprovided with a lower annular flange 70 which underlies and supports theconveyor chain 62.

Disposed at a rear outer corner of the conveyor chain 58 is an enlargedC-shaped support 72 which has mounted thereon for rotation a verticalshaft 74. The vertical shaft 74 has rigidly secured to the upper endthereof for rotation therewith a drive sprocket 76, the drive sprocket76 engaging the conveyor chain 58 for imparting movement to the same.Mounted on the lower end of the shaft 74 is a driven pulley 78 which isconnected to a drive pulley 80 by a drive belt 82.

Carried by the top wall 18 and depending therefrom at the same outerrear corner of the conveyor chain 62 in vertical overlying relation withrespect to the support 72 is a C-shaped support 84. The C-shaped support84 has mounted thereon for rotation a vertical shaft 86 carried by thelower flange thereof. The upper end of the shaft 86 is provided with adrive sprocket 88 which is intermeshed with the conveyor chain 62 and isadapted to impart movement to the same. The lower end of the shaft 86has secured thereto a driven pulley 90 which is connected to a drivepulley 92, the pulleys 90 and 92 being connected by a drive belt 93entrained thereover.

The drive pulleys 80 and 92 are in vertical alignment and mounted on acommon drive shaft 94 which is supported at its lower end in a bearingmember 96 carried by the bottom wall 44 and at its upper end in abearing member 98 carried by the top Wall 18. The manner in which thedrive shaft 94 is rotated will be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

As is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 7, secured to certain lengths ofthe conveyor chains 58 and 62 are inwardly projecting hangers 100 whichare pivotally connected to connecting members 102 carried by theconveyor chains by pivot pins 104. These hangers 100, which are securedto the upper sides of each of the conveyor chains 58 and 62, have formedon their inner ends in opposed relation suitable bearing members 106.Extending between and rotatably journaled in aligned bearing members 106are vertical shafts 108. The shafts 108 have secured to lower portionsthereof driven pulleys 110 which are engaged by an elongated continuousdrive belt 112. It will be understood that movement of the drive belt112 will impart rotary motion to the pulleys 110 and the associatedshafts 108.

The central rear portion of the drive belt 112 is entrained over a drivepulley 114 which is mounted on a vertical drive shaft 116. The lower endof the drive shaft 116 is journaled in a support bracket 118 extendingforwardly from the rear wall 40, and the upper end of the drive shaft116 is rotatably journaled in a suitable bearing member 120 dependingfrom the top wall 18. The

manner in which the drive shaft 116 is rotated will also be described inmore detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 8 in particular, it is seen that alsocarried by the conveyor chain 58 and secured to the upper side thereofare inwardly extending hangers 122. The hangers 122 have mounted on theinner ends thereof for rotation eyelet pulleys 124 which engage thedrive belt 112 and retain the shape thereof while the conveyor chainsare passing around corners at the ends of the cabinet. It will be alsonoted that the rollers 56 are tightly grouped at the forward end of thecabinet so as to permit proper movement of the conveyor chains about aheel of a shoe. It will be further noted that certain of the rollers 56have their annular flanges 60 omitted.

At the rear portions of the drive belt 112 there are provided numerousguide pulleys 126 rigidly carried by the bottom wall 44 for guiding thedrive belt 112 into engagement with the drive pulley 114. The guidepulleys 126 are so arranged that the pulleys and 124- remain in constantengagement with the drive belt 112 except for a very short interval.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it is seen that the brown shoepolish applying mechanism 36 which is illustrated therein includes acylindrical toe cleaning brush 128, a pair of wheel-shaped side and heelcleaning brushes 130, a cylindrical toe polish applying brush 132, apair of wheel-shaped side and heel polish applying brushes 134, acylindrical toe polishing brush 138, and a plurality of wheel-shapedside and heel polishing brushes 140. While this arrangement may bevaried, it will be understood that the brushes should be so arrangedwhereby the sequence of operation of the shoe polish machine is suchthat the shoe is first cleaned, then polish is applied, and then thepolish is shined. In order that shoe polish may be selectively appliedto only the polish applying brushes 132 and 134, there is provided apivotally mounted bell crank 142. The bell crank 142 has one arm 144disposed adjacent the paths of the brushes and has mounted on a free endthereof a first polish pad 146 and on the opposite end thereof a secondpolish pad 148.

The second arm of the bell crank 142 is connected to a plunger shaft 150of an electromagnetic device 152 which may be selectively actuated in amanner to be described in more detail hereinafter. When theelectromagnetic device 152 is actuated, the bell crank 142 is pivoted tothe position illustrated by the solid lines in Figure 4 so that thepolish pad 146 engages the brush 132 and the polish pad 148 sequentiallyengages the brushes 134. It will be understood that the electromagneticdevice 152 is actuated only long enough to apply polish to the brushes132 and 134. The bell prank 142 then returns to its normal position,which is illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 4 so as to move thepolish pads 146 and 148 out of the path of the other brushes.

It will be noted that the toe engaging brushes 128, 132 and 138, whichare identical, are normally in a position whereby they do not engage ashoe which may be placed upon a shoe support 154 adjacent the front endof the cabinet 10. As is best illustrated in Figure 8, the brush 132 ismounted on a shaft mounted for rotation within a suitable journal member156 which is supported by a support arm 158. The other end of thesupport arm 158 includes a suitable journal member 160 which is mountedon an associated rotating shaft 108. Carried by the associated shaft 108is a first bevel gear 162 which is intermeshed with a bevel gear 164carried by an end of the shaft on which the brush 132 is mounted. It canbe seen that when the shaft 108 is rotated the bevel gears 162 and 164function to rotate the brush 132. In order that the brush 132 and itssupport arm 158 will not rotate together with the shaft 108, there isprovided a coil spring which has a lower end thereof connected to thesupport arm 158 and an upper end connected to an associated bearingmember 106. The coil spring 170 retains the brush 132 in its normalposition, as is best illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 8 in particular, it can be seen thatrigidly secured to the support arm 158 and extending outwardly therefromis an arm 172. The outer free end of the arm 172 is provided with aroller 174 which is adapted to engage a cam 176 carried by the side wall42 and projecting inwardly therefrom. As the conveyor chains progress intheir travel, the arms 172 move into engagement with the cam 176 and theassociated brush 132 is rotated inwardly to the position illustrated inFigure 9 to overlie a toe of a shoe positioned upon the shoe support 154in order to properly engage the same in a manner best illustrated inFigure 5. It will be noted that the brush is referred to by thereference numeral 132 and the shoe is referred to by the referencenumeral 178. However, it will beunderstood that the brushes 128 and 138will engage the shoe 178 in exactly the same manner. After the arm 172moves out of engagement with the cam 176, the brush 132 is returned toits normal position.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated one of the wheel-shaped brushes, which will be referred toas the brush 134, and which is illustrated as being in engagement withthe side of the shoe 178. It will be understood that the brush 134 willremain in engagement with the sides and heel of the shoe 178 during itstravel around the front portion of the cabinet. Due to the effectiveengagement of the brushes, such as the brushes 132 and 134, with theshoe 17:8, it will be seen that the same will be thoroughly cleaned andpolished.

Referring once again to Figures 4 and 8 in particular, it will be seenthat there is supported on the rear wall 40 of the base portion of thecabinet 10 an electric motor 180 which is provided with a drive pulley182. The drive pulley 182 is in alignment with a driven pulley 184mounted on the drive shaft 116 and is connected therewith by a drivebelt 186. Disposed above the pulley 184 is a first gear 188 which isintermeshed with a gear 190 secured to the drive shaft 94. In view ofthe foregoing, it will be seen that both the conveyor chains and thedrive belt 112 will be driven by a single power unit, such as theelectric motor 180.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that there isoperatively associated with the electric motor 180 in a manner to bedescribed in more detail hereinafter a control member which is referredto in general by the reference numeral 192. The control member 192includes a pair of concentric contact rings 194 and 196 which aresubstantially continuous. However, the contact rings 194 and 196 areinterrupted so that there will be a point whereby no current will bepassed from them to contact fingers 198 and 200, respectively, engagedtherewith. The control member 192 also includes a segmental contact ring202 which is engageable by a contact finger 204.

The controls for the shoe polish applying mechanisms 34 and 36 alsoinclude coin control switches 206 and 208 which are associated with thecoin receiving slots 26 and 28, respectively. Connected to these coinoperated switches 206 and 208 are main lead wires 210 and 212 which areconnected to a power source. Inasmuch as the wiring for the two shoepolish applying mechanisms 34 and 36 are identical, only the wiring forthe shoe polish applying mechanism 36 will be described in detail.

Connected to the coin control switch 208 at a point remote from theconnection of the lead wires 210 and 212 are wires 214 and 216. The wire216 is connected to the contact ring 194 and the wire 214 is connectedto the contact rings 202 and 196. The wire 214 is also connected by awire 218 to one terminal of the electromagnetic device -2.

It will be seen that connected to terminals of the motor 180 and thecontact fingers 198 and 200 are wires 220 and 222, respectively.Connected to the other terminal of the electromagnetic device 152 is oneend of a wire 224 whose other end is connected to the contact finger204.

Referring once again to Figures 4 and 8 in particular,

it will be seen that mounted on the drive shaft 116 below the pulley 184is a pulley 226. The pulley 226 is connected to a pulley 228 of a speedreduction box 230 by a drive belt 232. The speed reduction box 230 isprovided with a drive shaft 234 on which is mounted the control member192. The various contact fingers are mounted on a stationary block 236carried by the rear wall 40in alignment with the control member 192.

In operation, a persons shoe is deposited into the desired shoereceiving opening 20 or 22 depending upon the color shoe to be shined.'Then, a coin is selectively positioned in the correct coin receivingslot 26 or 28 so as to actuate one of the coin operated switches 206 and208.

The operation of one of the switches 206 or 208 results in the passageof current to the associated control member 192 with the associatedenergization of the electric motor which results in the driving of theconveyor chains and the drive belt 112. The energization of the motor180 also results in the rotation of the control member 192 due to theaction of the speed reduction box 228. As the segmental contact ring 202rotates, it comes in engagement with the contact finger 204 with theresult that the associated electromagnetic device 152 is energized toapply shoe polish to the desired polish applying brushes 132 and 134.The conveyor chains continue their cycle until the contact fingers 198and 200 reach the gaps in the contact rings 194 and 196, respectively.At this time, the circuit to the electric motor 180 is opened and thesame stops revolving. Also, the coin in the selected coin receiving slot26 or 28 is then permitted to drop into a suitable receptacle (notshown), to break the circuit to the control member 192. After the coinhas dropped into the chute, the momentum of the various elements of thedrive means results in the rotation of the control member 192 to a pointwhere the contact fingers once again engage their respective contactrings 194 and 196 to properly complete the circuit should another coinbe positioned within the associated coin receiving slot. After one shoehas been polished, it will be necessay to repeat the operation for theother shoe.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shoe polishing machine comprising an endless conveyor, a pluralityof shoe engageable brushes, a stationary support for a shoe to bepolished, means mounting said endless conveyor for movement about saidstationary support, first drive means connected to said conveyor, seconddrive means connected to said brushes for rotating said brushes, saidbrushes including a first brush and second brushes, support meansmounting said first brush on said conveyor for engagement with a toeonly of a shoe, and other support means mounting said second brushes onsaid conveyor for engagement with sides and the heel only of a shoe.

2. A shoe polishing machine comprising an endless conveyor, first drivemeans connected to said conveyor for moving said conveyor through onecomplete revolution in a complete shoe cleaning operation, a pluralityof shoe engaging brushes, second drive means connected to said brushesfor rotating said brushes, support means mounting said brushes on saidconveyor in sets for sequentially cleaning, applying polish and shininga shoe, each of said sets including a first brush and second brushes,said support means mounting said first brush of each of said sets forengagement of a toe only of a shoe, said support means mounting saidsecond brushes of each set on said conveyor for engaging the sides and aheel only of a shoe.

3. In a shoe polishing machine, shoe polishing means including a shoesupport, a plurality of brushes, a conveyor mounted for movement aboutsaid shoe support, drive means connected to said brushes for rotatingsaid brushes, said brushes including a first brush and second brushes,said second brushes having bristles, support means mounting said secondbrushes on said conveyor with said bristles disposed in a plane normalto the general surfaces of said heel portions of a shoe mounted on saidshoe support, and other means mounting said first brush on said conveyorfor movement longitudinally over a toe portion of a shoe, said firstbrush having bristles lying in a plane normal to the general surfaces ofa toe portion of a shoe, cam means connected to said other support meansfor retaining said first brush out of engagement with a shoe whendisposed rearwardly of a toe portion of a shoe.

4. A shoe polishing machine comprising a shoe support, a conveyormounted for movement about said shoe support, a plurality of shoeengageable brushes, first drive means for said conveyor, second drivemeans for said brushes, said brushes including a first brush, supportmeans mounting said first brush on said conveyor for movementlongitudinally over a toe portion of a shoe in engagement therewith, anda second brush, means mounting said second brush on said conveyor formovement about a shoe in engagement with side and heel portions thereof,cam means for retaining said first brush in spaced relation relative toa shoe when disposed rearwardly of the toe portion thereof, said supportmeans including a support arm pivotally mounted relative to said endlessconveyor, said cammeans including another arm connected to said supportarm, a fixed cam engageable with said another arm to pivot said firstbrush into a shoe toe en- 7 gaging position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,024,589 McConnell Apr. 30, 1912 1,086,023 Campbell Feb. 3, 19141,086,032 Diekmann Feb. 3, 1914 1,086,043 Green Feb. 3, 1914 2,060,384Shearer Nov. 10, 1936

